Martha Ellen Kossoff

Martha Ellen Kossoff, a cherished member of the Alexandria, Virginia, community, passed away on April 6, 2026, at the age of 74. Born on September 28, 1951, in Baltimore, Maryland, Martha lived a life enriched by her love for family, faith, music, and travel.

Martha pursued her education with dedication and passion. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina and continued her studies at the UNC School of Education, where she obtained a Master’s degree in School Psychology. Her academic achievements reflected her commitment to education and understanding those who worked and studied in her community.

Until she retired after nearly 40 years, Martha was Workforce Development Program Developer at Northern Virginia Community College’s Annandale campus, the oldest and largest branch of the community college system. 

For more than 40 years, Martha was also a devoted member of Foundry Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., where she found joy and purpose in singing with the Chancel Choir. Her love for music was a defining part of her life; she delighted in choral singing, most lately with the New Dominion Chorale. Beyond music, Martha had an adventurous spirit and a love for travel. She embraced opportunities to explore new places, including Western Canada and river cruises in Europe. She was fiercely loyal to her friends and would take vacations to visit those who had moved to other parts of the country, such as friends in South Dakota whom she saw in the summer of 2024. 

Martha’s unwavering faith and dedication to her family were central to who she was. She was a doting aunt to her five nieces and nephews and always remembered their birthdays and other important events in their lives. When she became a great aunt, she took joy in the next generation. Her legacy is one of love—for her faith, for music, for discovery, and for the people who were fortunate enough to share in her journey.

She is survived by her siblings: Mirinda Kossoff (Vic Benedict), Robert Kossoff (Ginger), and Bonnie McDaniel (Kris). Martha was predeceased by her parents, Hugh and Nancy Kossoff.

A memorial service will be held at Citty Funeral Home, 308 Lindsey Street in Reidsville, North Carolina on Saturday, May 2nd at 11:00 am.

A second service will be held at Martha’s church, Foundry Methodist, 1500 16thStreet, NW on June 7,th at a time to be determined.

The family would like to thank Martha’s many friends for all their care over the past two years of her illness. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Martha’s memory to the charity of your choice.

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